Folding tripod



14, 1944. '1'; P T RS Nv 2 2,343,924 FOLDING TRIPOD Filed Nov. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR.

March 14, 1944. -r. PETERSEN FOLDING TRIPOD Filed Nov 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 2,642;

ATTORNEY.

March 14, 1944.

T. PETERSEN FQLDING TRIPOD Filed Nov. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

Patented Mar. 14, 1944 Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 13, 1949', Serial No. 365,475

2 Claims.

the tripod is used for supporting a pipe vise for holding pipe as it is cut or threaded. In some respects the tripod is peculiarly advantageous with relation to this device because of the swinging clearances made possible for the cutting or threading tools. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the tripod in open or set position.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 a side elevation of the tripod.

Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 an elevation of a pipe supporting member.

Fig. '7 a bottom view of the brace locking the legs in open position.

Fig. 8 a side elevation of a part of the tripod showing the brace partly collapsed.

Fig. 9 a front view of a part of the tripod showing the brace partially collapsed.

Fig. 10 shows a front elevation of the tripod in folded position.

Fig. 10a shows a section on the line l!lallla in Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 a side elevation of the tripod in folded provided with a slot Ill. A rear leg' ll extends into the slot and is pivotally mounted by means of a bolt I? which extends through the sides of the slot and the leg. The rear of the slot forms a shoulder Ilia limiting the movement of the leg H to its open position.

A collapsible brace I 3 is provided for locking the legs in open position. This brace is formed of three articulated members l4 and 22. These members are formed of plates flanged at their edges; the plates forming, when they are in open position, a tool receiving tray below the vise. The flanges l5 of the members M are extended forming ears l6 which receive the legs 6. Bolts I! extend through the ears I 6 and the legs 6 thus forming a pivotal connection between the members l4 and the legs. The members I4 have complementary hinged butts I8 formed on the inner edges, and a hinge pin [9 extends through these butts. The pin has a flattened end which is arranged between the ears 2| secured to the bottom of the member 22. A bolt 23 extends through the ears 2| and the end 20 of the pin l9 forming a pivotal connection between the member 22 and the pin I9. The member 22 has side flanges 24 which are extended beyond the plate 22 forming ears 25. These ears engage the sides of the rear leg II and are pivotally secured to the leg by bolt 26 which extends through the ears and the leg. The articulated brace permits the lifting of the brace, the members l4 swinging upwardly on the hinge formed by the butts l8 and pin 19 and the bolts H. The members l4 and the member 22 are hinged iti through the pivot on the bolt 23 between the 1 marks a pipe vise for which the tripod is ears 2| and the pin l9. This articulated arparticularly adapted g the base f the pipe vise rangement permits the upward collapsing of the hi forms t head of t tripod The base brace as a whole and the inward swinging of the has the extended ears 3 and 4 at its lower front legs that ey y be b ought together as corners forming sockets or spaces 5 for receiving Shown in Figs- -0 a d 1. In order to lock the the legs 5. Bolts 1 extend through the ears and brace in its lower Position e flanges f One the legs forming pivotal connections between member M are extended at Ma so as to p s Ov the legs and the base. It will be noted that the the companion member and limit the downward space 5 terminates in a shoulder 5a which is enmovement of the members I4. The flanges 24 gaged by the upper end of the leg when it is in of the member 22 have the small projections 24a full open position. thus definitely locating the which extend over the flanges 15. The abutting leg with relation to the base. The lower ends of the flange 24 on the flange IS with the proof the legs have forwardly and outwardly exiection 24a also looks or limits the downward tending curves 8 to increase the spread of the em o he joint fo med by the bolt 23. legs and provide greater stability. The legs 5 The stops 5a and Illa are located with relation however extend directly downwardly from the vise for a sufiicient distance to permit free clearance of any tools operating on material in the vise.

The base has a rearward extension 9 which is i to the legs so that they come into engagement slightly before the final downward movement of the brace is completed so that with the completion of the downward movement of the brace with its consequent toggle action, the legs are slightly stressed giving very definite rigidity to the tripod as a whole. The brace is carried downwardly suffi-ciently, having reference to the joints, to carry the toggle centers slightly below alignment with the leg connections of the brace so thatwhen the brace reache its lower position it is yieldingly locked against release.

It is desirable to provide a pipe support to the rear of the vise and this is accomplished in the present structure by the folding arm 21, the upper end of which has a pipe supporting surface 30. The arm is channel shaped; the sides of the channel at the lower end extending below the channel forming cars 28 straddling the leg ll. Bolt 29 extends through the ears and leg ll forming a pivotal connection between the leg and the arm. This bolt is tightened suffi-ciently to distort or force the hollow leg, 11 out of round so that the wall of the leg forms a spring take-up, maintaining a frictional engagement between the arm and :the leg so that it will stay folded when the tripodis collapsed or will stay in it upper or set position with the tripod in Open position for use. v 7 at V A pipe 3| is shown in place in the vise resting on the supporting arm 21 in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the front of the tripod is clearto permit the swinging of cutter or threading tools on that part of the pipe extending in front of the v1se. i

In order to hold the legs assembled when the tripod i collapsed, I provide an arm 32 which extends through openings 33 in the legs 5; The arm extends from a sleeve 34 and is held in place when in use by a spring actuated detent 35. The arm can. be retracted and this the tripod to be opened. 1

What I claim as new is: 1. In a tripod having a head and legs pivoted thereto, the combination with said head and legs of a brace formed of articulated members, piv- 5 otailly secured to the legs, locking the legs in open po ition when swung to open position and collapsing with the closing of the legs, the brace having two members pivoted together and to the front legs of the tripod, the axes of the pivots being parallel, a third member of the brace being pivoted to the rear leg and pivotally connected to a pivotal member of the pivot between the members connecting the front legs, the pivotal movement of the members relatively to each other having limiting stops permitting movement of the members slightly beyond center.

2. In a tripod having a head and legs pivoted V thereto, the combination with said head and legs of a brace formed of articulated members, pivotally secured to the legs, locking the leg in open position when swung to open position and collapsing with the closing of the legs, the brace having two members pivoted together and to the front legs of the tripod, the axes of the pivots being parallel, a third member of the brace being pivoted to the rear leg and'pivotally connected to a pivotal member of the pivot between the members connecting the front legs, the pivotal movement of the members relatively to each other having limiting stops permitting movement of the members lightly beyond center, the limiting stops between the head and the legs engaging prior to the final positioning of the brace.

THORVALD PETERSEN. 

